Former Florida teacher gets five years in prison for child porn

FLORIDA — A former teacher has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida has announced.

Mark Robert Clow, 54, of Tallahassee, has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for receiving material constituting child pornography, announced Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida (USAO).

“The safety and well-being of our children is paramount,” said Coody.

“Those who seek to view and maintain child pornography facilitate the abuse of children by those who produce and profit from this illegal content, robbing our children of their innocence and their very childhood. With our law enforcement partners, we will hold such offenders accountable.”

According to the USAO, between June 2017, and September 2021, Clow distributed, received and possessed material containing child pornography. The pornographic material found in Clow’s possession reportedly involved a minor under the age of 12.

“A teacher holds a position of great responsibility and trust, violating that trust by preying on the innocent destroys the fabric of a healthy and conducive learning environment for our children,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips.

“To collect and distribute this illicit child exploitation material supports the evil industry that creates it.”

Clow’s prison sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions

“This sentencing reflects the dedication of prosecutors and our law enforcement agencies to vigorously pursue justice in these cases,” said Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil.

“The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is committed to working with our partners to ensure anyone who is sexually abuses children and/or produces, obtains, or shares images of such abuse faces justice.”

This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.